The football-media industry scouts its next generation of talking heads. Because if you're not sick of Keyshawn and Co. already, you will be by Super Bowl Sunday.

Tony Gonzalez Retire

Tony Gonzalez Retire

Over the next few years, a windfall of NFL stars will be unemployed and looking for a desk job — in front of millions of people, talking football. But it's a crowded field; according to Dan Levy at Bleacher Report, seventy-one former players were working on studio shows for either NBC, CBS, FOX, NFL Network, or ESPN this season. And on-field wattage doesn't always mean on-camera success.

"Time and time again, the guys everyone just assumed would be great on TV, have been terrible," says a prominent agent who represents broadcasters and, like the dozen insiders contacted by Esquire.com, was granted anonymity in exchange for his assessment of the television landscape. "More often than not, we have been wrong. Tiki Barber was supposed to be the best at this. He sucked. Joe Montana? The same thing."

For every brand name like Jerome Bettis who flames out, there's a no-namer like ESPN's Mark Schlereth who doesn't. Herein, ten players whom the producers, bookers, agents, and reporters say they most want to see behind a microphone.

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

"If I were to rank the top five active players that I'd want on a studio show, Peyton Manning would be number one, number two, number three, number four, and number five." — Television Executive

"He can have whatever seat on whatever network he wants. He's that good." — Agent

"He could be the lead color commentator in the booth and be damn good. But how often do you see that guy during a game? Three times? You'd want Peyton Manning front and center, doing pre-game, doing halftime, and doing postgame." — Agent

"He'll be the most sought after ex-player to enter the media world, possibly ever." — Media Reporter